Rampage (franchise)
| Company type | Video game series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | 1986 |
| Founder | Midway Games |
| Fate | Acquired by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment (2009) |
| Products | Video games, film adaptation |
| Parent | Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment (2009–present) |
Rampage is a series of video games initially launched by Midway Games (1986–2009) and presently published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment (2009–present), available on arcade machines and home consoles. Players assume control of humans transformed into enormous monsters due to scientific mishaps, using these creatures to wreak havoc on urban environments while evading law enforcement and military intervention.
In 2018, a motion picture adaptation was released.
Premise
The storyline centers on unethical experiments conducted by Scumlabs, which result in humans mutating into massive, beast-like creatures that then cause widespread destruction across the globe and beyond. The series is heavily inspired by iconic monster movies such as King Kong and 20 Million Miles to Earth. Its primary characters include George, a scientist transformed into a gorilla-like beast; Lizzie, who becomes a reptilian monster; and Ralph, mutated into a creature resembling a werewolf.
Games
- Rampage (1986) – The characters George, Lizzie, and Ralph transform into monsters and demolish cities while avoiding capture by military forces.
- Rampage World Tour (1997) – The trio breaks free from Scumlabs and proceeds to destroy the company’s facilities worldwide.
- Rampage 2: Universal Tour (1999) – New additions Boris (rhinoceros-inspired), Curtis (mouse-like), and Ruby (lobster-shaped) join the destruction amid an extraterrestrial invasion.
- Rampage Through Time (2000) – The monsters utilize a time machine to cause chaos across different historical periods.
- Rampage Puzzle Attack (2001)
- Rampage: Total Destruction (2006) – A newly introduced soda triggers mutations in numerous individuals; some escape cryogenic storage to unleash destruction globally.
- Rampage (2018) – A reboot aligned with the film adaptation.
Film adaptation
The live-action film version premiered on April 13, 2018, directed by Brad Peyton and starring Dwayne Johnson. Unlike the games, the movie portrays George, Lizzie, and Ralph as mutated animals instead of humans transformed into monsters.
To complement the film’s release, three video games were created: an exclusive arcade title for Dave & Buster's, developed in partnership with Adrenaline Amusements for their entertainment venues; an augmented reality application named RAMPAGE: AR Unleashed; and a browser-based free-to-play game called Rampage City Smash. Furthermore, a virtual reality experience titled Project Rampage VR was also launched.